Apparatus for applying a sucker rod protector



Jan. 8, 1957 c. H. COLLETT 2,776,469

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A SUCKER ROD PROTECTOR Filed March 20, 1952 Cl-IQQLES H. COLLETT INVENTOR.

DTTOQNEQS United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A SUCKER ROD PRGTECTOR Charles Haskell Collett, Burbank, Calif.

Application March 20, 1952, Serial No. 277,616

2 Claims. (Cl. 29-236) This invention relates to improvements in sucker rod protectors and to a method and apparatus for applying protectors to sucker rod sections.

Many protectors have heretofore been devised'for protecting sucker rods and to prevent the sucker rods from wearing the tubing severely. Many of such protectors have been applied to the sucker rod couplings. However, where the well is either quite crooked or has been obtained from slant drilling, it is desirable to mount protectors on the sucker rod sections intermediate the ends thereof. It has been proposed to apply sucker rod protectors intermediate the ends of sucker rod sections by wedging the protector in place with wooden wedges anticipating that the wood would swell and keep the protector tightly positioned on the sucker rod section. These have not proved satisfactory due to the fact that in the course of a relatively short time the wedges tend to loosen and to consequently loosen the entire protector This is particularly true where the sucker rod in the course of its reciprocation develops a slap against the interior of the tubing so that the protector is subjected to impact.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved sucker rod protector consisting essentially of an outer annular sleeve having a diameter such that it can be slipped over the enlarged end of a sucker rod section and positioned intermediate the ends thereof and to provide an inner split sleeve of rubber or similar compressible material which can be telescopically driven into the outer sleeve with great force so as to form an extremely tight fit between the sucker rod section and the interior of the outer sleeve. In this manner the pressure exerted by the rubber inner sleeve is evenly distributed so that even though the protector may be subjected to impact it will not loosen and permit the protector to come apart.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of applying and assembling the elements of a sucker rod protector on a sucker rod section intermediate its ends.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple apparatus for applying a sucker rod protector intermediate the ends of a sucker rod section. While the invention has been primarily designed for applying protectors to sucker rod sections it will be understood that the invention is not necessarily restricted thereto but may be adapted to the application of drill pipe protectors.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, whichwill be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is bad to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure l is-a view in side elevation of a sucker rod section illustrating the novel sucker rod protector embodying the present invention in applied position thereon intermediate its ends;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an apparatus that may be "ice 2 advantageously employed to apply the protector illustrated in Fig. l; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are horizontal sections taken substantially upon the lines 33, 44 and 5-5, respectively, upon Fig. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, S indicates a conventional sucker rod section which is of relatively small diameter intermediate its ends. At the extreme ends of the section there are threaded pins 10 and 11 by which the section may be attached by means of couplings to adjoining sucker rod sections. In the conventional sucker rod section the ends are upset and are enlarged, as indicated at 12 and 13, and these upset or enlarged ends are usually provided with flats for the application of a wrench used in assembling the sections to form a complete sucker rod.

The sucker rod protector embodying the present invention comprises an outer annular unsplit metal sleeve 14 preferably hardened or otherwise formed to resist wear. This sleeve has an internal diameter such that it may be axially slipped over either upset end 12 or 13 of the sucker rod section. Within the annular sleeve 14 there is an inner sleeve 15 preferably formed of synthetic rubher or similar compressible material. This sleeve is longitudinally split along one side, as indicated at 16, so that the sleeve may be opened at the split and applied laterally to the sucker rod section intermediate its ends. There is a vertical central passage 17 through the inner sleeve that has an initial or normal diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the central portion of the section S. The outer surface of the inner sleeve is preferably tapered, as indicated at 18, throughout a major portion of its length. This portion has an initial or normal diameter even at the bottom of the taper that is slightly greater than the internal diameter of the annular sleeve 14. The very bottom of the inner sleeve may be beveled, as at 19, to facilitate its entry into the top of the annular sleeve 14 in the course of assembly. Adjacent the top of the inner sleeve there is a downwardly facing shoulder 20 designed to engage and to overlie the top of the outer sleeve 14 when the parts of the protector are assembled together.

The assembly of the protector about the sucker rod section consists of merely slipping the annular sleeve 14 over an upset end of the section S, then opening the'inner sleeve by separating the sides of the split 16 and applying the inner sleeve laterally to the section S intermediate its upset ends. On release of the inner sleeve it will return to its normal position encircling the section S and may he slid into engagement with the end of the outer sleeve 14. Fluid pressure, preferably a high hydraulic pressure, is then applied to the inner sleeve causing it to telescopically slide into the outer sleeve under great force. This involves a compression of the inner sleeve and may involve some lengthening of it. However, an extremely tight fit is established thereby between the section S and the interior of the sleeve 14. The pressure exerted by the compressed inner sleeve is evenly distributed so that even though the protector may be subjected to lateral impact forces there is no danger of the parts of the protector loosening and becoming separated.

The invention also contemplates a novel applicator for applying the protector to the sucker rod section. This consists of an outer pressure cylinder 21 within the bottom of which there is threaded an annular shouldered ring 22 having an internal shoulder 23 providing a seat for the bottom of the sleeve 14. Sealing means, such as an O-ring 24, prevents leakage between the threads and a sealing means 25, which may also be an O-ring, forms a liquidtight seal between the ring 22 and the exterior of the sleeve 14. The internal diameter of the ring 22 is such that it is capable of being slipped over either of the upset ends of the sucker rod section. The top of the pressure cylinder 21 is equipped with a shouldered closure ring 26 which is threaded into the top of the pressure cylinder. A sealing means such as an O-ring 27 prevents leakage between the threads. This ring has an internal annular shoulder 28 and has an internal diameter such that it is capable of passing over either of the upset ends 12 or 13 of the section S. There are opposed closure-forming members 29 and 30 which are adapted to be assembled into mutual engagement about the sucker rod section. These members have external shoulders 31 and 32, respectively, that are adapted to abut the shoulder 23 on the ring 26. The upper portions of these closure-forming members are adapted to be slipped through the ring as until the shoulders 31 and 32 engage the shoulder 22 A split rubber sealing ring 33 is provided which can be opened and applied laterally about the sucker rod section. This ring is designed to fit within the ring as and to abut against the bottoms of the closure-forming members 29 and 30.

The pressure cylinder 21 is provided with an inlet 34 for hydraulic fluid such as water and a quickly detachable coupling 35 is applicable thereto. Ths coupling has a nipple 36 to which a hose may be connected for supplying water to the pressure cylinder. In the hose (not shown) I provide a hand pump (also not shown) which can force the water through the hose and into the cylinder 21 at very high pressure. Any equivalent means for supplying liquid to the pressure cylinder 21 under very high pressure may be employed. Near the top of the pressure cylinder there is provided a bleeder valve 37 which can be opened and closed by means of a handle 38 on the exterior of the pressure cylinder. This bleeder valve may be opened to bleed air from the cylinder when the liquid is introduced therein and when the air has escaped the bleeder valve may then be closed.

In using the applicator to apply the protector the sleeve 14 is first slipped onto the section over the upset end thereof. The inner sleeve 15 is then applied laterally to the section S and positioned against the top of the outer sleeve 14. The cylinder 21 together with its lower ring 22 is then slipped onto the bottom of the sucker rod section and the bottom of the outer sleeve 14- is caused to seat on the shoulder 23. The sealing ring 33 is then opened and laterally applied to the sucker rod section S and the closure-forming members 29 and 30 are mutually assembled thereover by being applied laterally. The top ring 26 is then slipped over the upper upset end 12 of the sucker rod section and telescoped over the closure forming members 29 and 30. It is screwed into the top of the pressure cylinder 21. Liquid under high pressure is then supplied to the interior of the cylinder 21 through the inlet 34 and as the cylinder 21 fills air may be exhausted through the bleeder valve 37. The bleeder valve is then closed and high liquid pressure is developed within the cylinder. This liquid pressure is effective against the tapered sides 18 tending to compress these sides inwardly. it is also effective on the upper end of the inner sleeve As the bottom of the inner sleeve is exposed through the outer sleeve 14 to atmosphere, the differential in pressure is effective to force the inner sleeve 15 downwardly into the outer sleeve 14. Downward movement of the inner sleeve 15 is limited by the shoulder engaging the top of the outer sleeve 14. It'can be ascertained when the telescopic movement of the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve is completed by observing whether the lower end of the inner sleeve projects or protrudes through the bottom of the ring 22. When the parts of the protector have been mutually assembled the bleeder valve 37 may be opened to release the pressure within the cylinder 21 and the ring 26 may be unscrewed. When this ring is slipped upwardly from the closure-forming members 29 and 39 these members may be separated laterally from the section and the sealing ring 33 opened and laterally withdrawn. The ring 26 may he slipped over the upper enlarged end 12 of the section S and the pressure cylinder 21 removed over the enlarged bottom 13 of the sucker rod section leaving the protector in applied position thereon.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that the improved protector can be easily and economically manufactured and easily and quickly applied to the sucker rod section at a point intermediate its end or between the enlarged upset ends of the section. When in applied position the fit between the inner and outer sleeve is so extremely tight that the parts cannot be readily separated. The top of the inner sleeve frequently swells and may even project slightly beyond the outer sleeve 14. This is no disadvantage and sometimes may he used to advantage in wiping sand from the walls of the tubing thus reducing wear to which the outer sleeve 14 may be subjected. While the invention has been primarily designed for use on sucker rods it will be appreciated that it may be employed to advantage on drill pipe and under analogous circumstances.

Various changes may be made in the details of the construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An applicator for sucker rod protectors and the like comprising a pressure cylinder having an inside diameter such that it may be passed over one end of a sucker rod section, a shoulder having an inner diameter larger than that of a sucker rod on which it is to be mounted and located adjacent the bottom. of the cylinder and on which shoulder an outer sleeve of a sucker rod protector may be positioned, means for sealing between the outer sleeve and the cylinder adjacent the shoulder, a top closure for the cylinder detachably connected thereto and also capable of. being passed over the end of a sucker rod section, a shoulder in the top closure, split retaining means applicable laterally about the sucker rod section and engageable with the shoulder and having an inner diameter approximating that of a sucker rod on which it is to be mounted, split sealing means applicable laterally to the section and longitudinally against said split retaining means to seal about said sucker rod section, and means for conducting fluid pressure to the cylinder between the split sealing means and the shoulder adjacent the bottom of the cylinder.

2. An application for sucker rod protectors and the like comprising means providing an open-ended chamber capable of being slipped over an end of a sucker rod section having enlarged ends so as to assume a position intermediate the enlarged ends thereof, means providing an internal ring-like seat fixed to one end of the chamber means adapted to seat one end of an outer sleeve of a sucker rod protector to hold it within and against longitudinal displacement relative to said chamber means, its seated end and the adjacent end of the chamber means being open to atmosphere, means for forming a closure for the other end of said chamber means about the intermediate sucker rod section, and means for admitting fluid pressure to the chamber between its ends, whereby, if a compressible inner rubber sleeve of greater diameter than an outer sleeve protector is positioned in the chambcr about the sucker rod section against the free end of an outer sleeve the fluid pressure effective thereon in the chamber may force the inner sleeve longitudinally into the space between such outer sleeve and the intermediate portion of the sucker rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Tryon Nov. 22, 1932 Rosenberg Apr. 18, 1933 Geyer June 6, 1933 Zerk May 15, 1934 Tarbox Feb. 25, 1936 Clark Oct. 14, 1941 Minor Nov. 25, 1941 

